[Publib] My Space and U Tube

Mon Sep 3 07:18:49 EDT 2007

Greetings,

I think it is somewhat awkward to try to redefine the words 
'social' and 'networking' to fit within a restrictive concept.
The applications within a social networking 'site' define usage.  
Publib itself is an application of social networking.

Here is a good example of social networking with a 
common interest group using the web in pursuit of common goals. 
The web site has attracted millions of visitors which help 
sustain and perpetuate the social network:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/30/spider.web.ap/index.html

*************************************************
Robert L. Balliot
1-401-441-5763
Skype: RBalliot
Bristol, Rhode Island
Librarians Join: http://gotbooks.ning.com/
Contact: http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
*************************************************

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Cherry, Kevin
Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 11:40 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] My Space and U Tube

All:

Just a few questions:

If someone complained about books that a library was making available or
that their neighbors were reading (instead of social networking sites), what
would we do? 

If gangs were hiding messages (or little packages of white powder) between
the pages of certain books, would we pull all books in the librar or just
those that provide popular hiding places--or do something else? And if it is
something else, what would that something else be?

If certain people keep breaking library codes of conduct, what is the
appropriate response according to your local policies? 

Why should we treat social networking sites differently than we do other
information resources made available by the library? What compelling reasons
have any of you heard that would explain the difference in this treatment?

Does anyone know how a social networking site is defined? Has anyone defined
"social networking sites" for legal reasons? At what point does the
inclusion of networked personal spaces, discussion boards, personal networks
of "friends," linked chat (and whatever other mix of tools might be
involved) become an online resource that we can call social networking? For
example, I think that there are a number of online course management tools
for distance instruction that come close to a social networking model in a
number of ways, and all sorts of social and political groups are attempting
to build online communities (social networking sites) to aid their cause,
educate their members, build greater support for some issue, sports team,
etc. It seems that current Web trends seem to point to more of a "social
networking" of the entire Web. (Because once Friendster and Myspace are not
available, I am sure it is only a matter of time before someone starts using
a rare book collectors Web site to start sharing illicit messages--and then,
we'll haveto block it, and after that it will be the wild flower fanciers
site . . .) If libraries decide to drop access to social networking sites,
do we run the risk of opting out of the information tool/media that
everybody else is embracing? What might be the longterm result of this
decision?

I am not trying to be some sort of smart aleck. Really, I am just asking the
questions. I know that no matter what side we might take on this issue (or
other issues), 99.9% of us here do care about our communities and our users,
and we are all trying to do the best that we can for them, often with
limited resources and in challenging situations. 

Soooo, what are our answers?

Kevin Cherry

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org on behalf of Kevin Okelly
Sent: Sun 9/2/2007 8:12 PM
To: Angela Williams; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Re: My Space and U Tube
You wrote:

"patrons complained about what is being viewed"

What gives these patrons the right to have any control over what other
patrons do?

And if some patrons are violating library codes of conduct, then ban the
patrons, not the websites.

Kevin O'Kelly
Reference and Cataloging Librarian
Somerville Public Library
79 Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143
(617)-623-5000

-----Original Message-----
From: Angela Williams <spartangirl68 at yahoo.com>
To: publib at webjunction.org
Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2007 06:35:08 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Publib] Re: My Space and U Tube

> The Greenville (SC) Public library just recently banned all social
> networking sites like My Space and Facebook. We did this for 3 reasons:
>   
>   1.  patrons complaints about what is being viewed
>   
>   2. repeated violations of the Library Code of Conduct
>   
>   3. Gangs are using these sites to coordinate activity.
>   
>   I sure our library isn't the only one having these problems with My
> Space, etc. How have you dealt with these issues?
>   
>   Angela Williams
>   Library Assistant III
>   Greenville County Library System
>   Greenville, SC
>   awilliams at greenvillelibrary.org
>   
>  
>
> 
>
>
> Angela Williams
> spartangirl68 at yahoo.com
>       
> ---------------------------------
> Building a website is a piece of cake.
> Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

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